Week 4 - The Shape Game

In this workshop, we learnt how to integrate the arts.

Literacy - read the picture book, The Shape Game by Anthony Browne

Art - students draw a shape on a piece of paper and pass it to the person next to them who will complete the drawing. The drawing is passed on to the next person who will name the drawing. The drawing is given back to the first student who will pick five pieces of coloured paper (one colour). They will cut out their shape using the coloured paper. In groups of five, students will give each member their shape and create a collage.

Drama - one collage will be chosen. Students in groups will create the collage with their bodies, incorporate sounds, movement and actions. All collages will be placed on the whiteboard, the audience will guess which collage the group are depicting.

Media - Students look back on a recording of their depiction of the collage and discuss and reflect on what they could have changed and why.

Music - one collage from each group will be placed on the whiteboard, students select an instrument for their shape and when the teacher taps on their shape, they play their music/sound for the shape.

I really liked this activity because it did not involve all students creating the same product/art work. Everyone's artwork was original. One thing I would add would be to have students create a dance out of the depiction of the collages. I could ask students: From this collage, what movements could you make? How could you manipulate the dynamic of the movement? How could you use the space (direction) and timing of the movement? What is the relationship and structure of the dance? Students will respond to the stimulus and compose a dance. As the NSW Board of Studies (2006) explains, “Dance composition involves learning to use the elements of dance to find and structure movement to express ideas in keeping with the intention of the dance” (p.16).

I would also include a whole class creative arts video journal where students can verbally reflect on their artworks, depiction and dance and talk about what they liked about other students works, what they liked about their work and what would they change. I think it is important to always include appreciation in the lesson as well as creating and performing. “This means teachers recognising the work of children; children appreciating each other’s work; and teachers and children recognising the work of professional artists… For art appreciation enriches children’s lives, informs their practice, connects them to their culture and community, and fulfils their international right to freely and fully participate in cultural life and the Arts” (Mai, 2013, p.49).